The Daily Word: Thursday, November 5th, 2020
Ezekiel 12:1-14:11
Hebrews 7:1-17
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 27:3
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity. Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your belongings out through it. – Ezek. 12:4-5
When we meet someone who needs Jesus, God asks us to open our mouths and speak. It’s simple! Heaven requires perfection! But all of us are imperfect. So we need a Savior. And Jesus came and died for our sins so that, when we trust in Him, we receive the reward of Heaven that only He deserves. But we back away from telling people about Jesus all the time. We think the risk is too costly. What if they think I’m weird? What if I get embarrassed? What if they don’t want to be my friend anymore because I tell them the truth that Jesus is Lord?
God asked His prophets to do some crazy stuff. Compared to what Ezekiel had to do, God’s request of us doesn’t seem so bad! When God wanted to warn His people about captivity, He asked Ezekiel to take all his stuff, pack it up, dig a hole in the wall of Jerusalem, and then pretend he was being taken captive for the entire city to see: all to show God’s people that God wanted them to change their ways. God didn’t care if it made Ezekiel uncomfortable! He didn’t ask Ezekiel what he thought about the idea. It did not matter to God how Ezekiel’s popularity or social circle would be impacted by this endeavor. God asked; and Ezekiel did it! It was that simple.
Yes, God calls you to open your mouth and share the Gospel. But compared to what He asked Ezekiel to do, is it really that big a deal?
Prayer:
Father, help me to put my mission in perspective. You are not asking me to do that much! So help me to open my mouth and share the Gospel with a smile on my face, and joy in my heart. I will serve You no matter what it entails, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.